Monday, October 18, 2010

Urban Cows

One of the most popular sculptures in Toronto is "The Pasture", a group of 7 life-size bronze cows by Canadian artist Joe Fafard. Installed in 1985 in the heart of the financial district, their original pasture is right beside the modernist towers of the TD Centre designed by architect Mies van der Rohe but they have been relocated to across the road temporarily while work is done at the TD. Conceptually they have to be the best in the city and to see them surrounded by people at lunch hour only reinforces that - everyone seems to be able to relate to them!

7 comments:

it is true, these pieces are conceptually wonderful. seeing them 'resting' on grass in the middle of toronto's financial area is perfect. i have had the opportunity to be up on a middle floor of the td centre and to look out a window and see the cows down below and people walking around them and even sitting on them is quite surreal. a full size bronze cow may seem banal, but a small 'herd' laying around in an inner city 'pasture' is sculpture. thanks for the pic and i hope that they get back to their home between the td towers soon - a much more provocative location.

You found one of my favourite Toronto features! I actually stumbled upon them completely by accident while they were still in their "old pasture" when I was visiting a friend's office. Given their proximity to the Financial District, I kept looking for the bull.

Walking through the financial district of Toronto on a very clear, warm December night, we were enexpectedly surprised to come across very life-like statues of a herd of cows lying in a "pasture"! Given the closeness to Christmas and the fact that Jesus was born in a stable, the significance of this chance encounter was all the more magical. The beautifully decorated white Christmas Trees in the background only added to specialness of the moment. It was a memory I will always cherish from Christmas 2015!